The role of Muslims in American society is for them to be allowed to practice their religion freely, which is part of our First Amendment. The role of Muslims in America is not to convert the rest of us to the Muslim religion. That I resent. Because we are a Judeo-Christian nation, from the fact that 85 percent of us are self-described Christians, or evangelicals, or practicing the Jewish faith. Eighty-five percent. One percent of the practicing religious believers in this country are Muslim.

And so I push back and reject them trying to convert the rest of us…

I find this hilariously ironic, because Mr. Cain is, himself, an associate minister at Antioch Baptist Church North in Atlanta. If you look on the front page of the Church’s website it says: “Fellowship.EVANGELISM. Doctrine. Stewardship.” [Emphasis mine].

In other words, trying to convert other people to the Christian faith. Indeed, that is one of the main missions of Evangelical Christianity. So, according to Mr. Cain, who is considering a run for the Presidency in 2012, Christians can try to convert other people, but Muslims need not apply. In fact, he will “push back and reject” any sort of Muslim evangelizing, because that is “not their role” in American society.

One would scratch their head in utter amazement at the hypocrisy of this man, but when one reads the interview, it is not surprising why he would have such a view. Mr. Cain himself admitted he had little knowledge about Islam, but it did not stop him from making sweeping judgments and stereotypes:

And based upon the little knowledge that I have of the Muslim religion, you know, they have an objective to convert all infidels or kill them.

Well, then, it makes sense that he would “resent” Muslim evangelism. In fact, it is patriotic of him to do so! Of course, Christians have never converted people under threat of death…(cough)…The Inquisition…(cough).

What’s more, he doesn’t even try to hide his bias against Muslims. He recounts his story battling cancer, and he said that when he found out his surgeon’s name was Dr. Abdallah (a presumptive Muslim), he was uncomfortable. When he was told, “Don’t worry, he’s a Christian,” Cain says, “he felt a whole lot better.” Wow.

Apparently, in the eyes of Herman Cain, all Americans are equal:

People use the race card, they use the class warfare card, to divide us. And the biggest challenge we face is for more and more people to be educated and not fall for those tricks and divide this nation. Do people still discriminate in some small ways against certain people because of their color or their religion? Yes. But it is nowhere near where it was 235 years ago.

It seems that Cain is trying to say that a little discrimination is OK.

When it comes to Muslims, some Americans are just more equal than others…

Addendum I:

If any Muslim candidate had said this about Jews, his career would be over faster than he could scarf down a halal beef-pretending-to-be-pepperoni pizza. And rightfully so. Yet, Cain says these statements with relative impunity. Contrast this lack of reaction from the public to the hysteria that surrounded Alexandra Wallace, the UCLA girl who ranted against Asians in the library. It’s strange that a random YouTube girl gets her academic career destroyed by such comments, whereas Cain’s political career is not over even though his comments were even more odious than hers…and even though he–unlike Ms. Wallace–never apologized for them. He didn’t need to apologize because the public never demanded him to. Truly, prejudice against Muslims and Arabs is the last socially acceptable form of bigotry in America.

I find this article hilarious being the FACT that US Muslims are not walking around ringing peoples bells … with pamplets..I am the finished product,,, a Prime Example.. The non-muslims have a terrible condition,, Islam-*phobia.. it is shameful to know that people see and say things the opposite as is.. being that the A christian Catholic evangalists,, will try to push religion upon someone..that is a FACT<??>
yes! JESUS (peace be upon him). we love him he is our SAVIOR… HAve you ever seen a MUslim ever handing out literature in the street or knocking on your door????.. LA ILLAH ILLA LAH NO GOD BUT GOD.. I found ISLAM on my own ,.and so did many other sisters i have come to know .with had to speak to another MUSLIM>> before hand.. and that Is A FACT! There is No GOD but GOD and MUHAMMED (peace be upon him)IS the LASt and FiNAL PROPHET of GOD ALLAH SWT.. HAve their been any other PROphets after him.. so FAR>>??>> hmm why is that so??

//Rose 25 March 2011 at 11:34 am

I’m glad this guy, Palin, Beck, & the fat guy on radio (Rush)have a voice. They make it easy to see the bigotry, prejudice, and just plain stupidity they spew on the airwaves.

//Lonnie Dillman 25 March 2011 at 11:39 am

As an American Muslim, I highly resemble Cain’s remarks.

//Eric Koenig 25 March 2011 at 11:53 am

I agree with everything except that I might add that overt prejudice against Hispanics seems to be a “socially acceptable” form of racism as well

//Tom Davey 25 March 2011 at 12:37 pm

Mr. Cain, like Many others are VERY ignorant to the fact Jesus( peace be upon him)and all the prophets and messengers of God were ALL MUSLIMS How and why? Because they all worshipped ONE GOD, just like over a billion Muslim do. If he can research this and acknowledge the fact. Then, I promise to switch back to the Republican party and vote for the man. Regards from another Muslim American !!!

//Roy Daniels 25 March 2011 at 1:56 pm

Hmmmm….. Interesting name: Cain. As in, the son of Adam & Eve who murdered his brother Abel out of jealousy over God accepting Abel’s offering and not his.

It does not surprise me at the lack of blow-back that Cain has not received, but deserves! After all, this bears witness to the fact that most people in the United States are very ignorant on the topic of Islam, but insist on sharing their ignorance with others!

Cain’s statement, “Because we are a Judeo-Christian nation….” is not a new or true statement. Many vainglorious Christians spout this claim, though many of the founding fathers of the U.S. were not Christians, but Deists (i.e. they believed in a supreme God). These Christians claim that the laws of the land were/are based from Judeo-Christian principles, but, to date, when I’ve challenged them to name a few of these principles on which Christianity and/or Judaism maintain a monopoly, I’ve NEVER received an attempt at a reply!!

In truth, many Christians in the U.S. are as hypocritical & simple-minded as Cain. Thanks for pointing out his hypocrisy, though….

Make him honest….if you can….!!

//Galen Muhammad 25 March 2011 at 2:09 pm

Well, I do not agree with the man’s comments but how do they differ from any established Muslim nation in this world. In how many Muslim nations are Christians allowed to convert Muslims to Christianity with impunity? In how many nations of the world are Muslims allowed to convertto another faith without death threats or deathly actions taken upon them? While you all heap scorn on this man; how about a little support being shown for Coptic’s and other Christian groups in various Muslim countries that must endure constant discrimination and threat of violence for practicing their beliefs.

This is the United States, Muslims should feel free to be as evangelical as they wish. I do, however, understand this man’s fear as Muslims talk about freedom but in places where they are in control very little of it exists. There is a gap between what I hear said much of the time, and actions in Muslim controlled areas that demonstrate the words.

As to Roy Daniels comment that Jesus was a Muslim: he was a Jew and Christianity existed before Islam; I understand the comment that Muslims believe in one god thus Muslim, while Christians have the trinity thus not one god thus not Monotheistic. This just pokes at Christianity as it is a Monotheistic religion and we believe in one god; Christians believe Jesus is the son of god not a prophet and we have the concept of the trinity but still the belief in only one god.

In regards to Judeo/Christian values: How can you argue against this? The laws and traditions were taken from countries compromised of Christians and their belief systems from their earliest settlements. The values were not Muslim, or Buddhist, or Hindu they were Christian in nature, and regardless of what may be said they were not very accepting of other belief structures, depending on the community one moved into. The need to get along with various belief structures led as much to freedom of religion as John Locke’s concept of Natural Rights which were not Christian in nature but a philosophy I fully agree with. I will state that Christians do not own these values and they are shared in other religious communities but many of the people in the early founding of the United states did not have any idea of what these other religions believed much less basing societal norms upon them.

//criley401 25 March 2011 at 6:54 pm

Thanks for the great article and comments. Commenters, with all due respect, please be careful not to generalize, yourselves. Not all Americans are ignorant of Islam. I think there’s likely even a *majority* of Americans who are tolerant, “live and let live” and open-minded. The problem is, they are not the most vocal. The few of us that do speak up in defense of freedom of religion are usually shouted down by vitriolic freaks whom we wish would crawl back under their rocks.

//Cellomommy 25 March 2011 at 7:04 pm

rose… i’ve seen a muslim handing out leaflets on a street corner. 9th st and 22nd av south in st petersburg fl. check him out if you’re ever in town.

//mike 3 April 2011 at 11:40 am

Cellomommy:

No one’s attacking all Americans. That would be self-contradictory. I am an American, myself.

It could be that the media focuses on a minority of ignorant people (celebrities, bloggers, politicians, general public, etc.) and publicizes their ignorant statements on Islam. Unfortunately, these publicized statements (READ:LIES/MISREPRESENTATIONS) affect those who are uninformed and they make them even more ignorant of what Islam really is.

criley401:

It is easy to argue with your conjecture. Not all of the founding fathers of the U.S. were Christians (known fact). Some were Deists. It is a history revisionist’s pipe-dream to claim that the “United States is founded on Christian principles“, though one cannot name ONE grand principle upon which this country was founded that no other faith cannot also claim.